Safety razor



W; 12, 1%. J. D, GARl QETSON SAFETY RAZOR Original Filed July 27, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w v v Nov. 12, 1935. J. D. GARRETSON 2,020,509

' SAFETY RAZOR Original Filed July 2'7, 1934- 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

I N VEN TOR.

JOHN D GARRETSON Patented Nov. 1.2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 27, 1934, Serial No. 737,148 Renewed June 20, 1935 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a safety razor consisting of a guard member, and a blade backing member, and a thin flexible blade to be clamped between the guard and backing members to retain the cutting edges of the blade in relation to openrazor on which the blade may be conveniently mounted and relative to which the blade can be either installed or removed without the necessity of taking apart the safety razor, and the subsequent liability of loss of parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety razor of the type mentioned, which permits of quick mounting and dismounting of the blade, and wherein the blade backing member is foldable to pass through an elongated slot in the blade, said blade being of the slotted type for cooperation with a safety razor of the character specified, the assembly being superior in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness of construction, positiveness of operation, and facility and convenience in use and general efiiciency.

In this specification and the annexed drawings, the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms; and it is also to be understood that in and by the claims following the description, it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may .be embodied.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 represents an end elevation of a razor constructed in accordance with my invention showing the blade backing member in elevated position, and partly broken away through the handle member to show the construction thereof.

Fig. 1a is a detail section taken through the guard and blade backing member, and showing the blade backing member in the partially closed position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through the razor and illustrating the blade backing member in position to clamp the blade onto the guard.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, and showing the blade backing member and blade in the clamped position on the guard.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the razor assembly in the shaving position.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken through Fig. 3 on the line 5-5.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blade used in conjunction with my razor.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the under side of the blade backing member and having a portion of the hinged joint thereof broken away to show 8 the interior construction thereof.

Fig. 8 is a section taken through Fig. 7 on the line 88.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the guard member with the blade backing member removed therefrom. 10

Fig. 10 is a section taken through Fig. 9 on the In the drawings the numeral l indicates a guard member provided with a slot 2 along each of its opposite longitudinal edges. The upper center I6 surface of the guard l is flattened as at 3, and the sides of the guard adjacent the flattened portion are curved downwardly and outwardly as at 5, at a proper angle for contacting a razor with the face during a shaving operation. Each 20 side edge of the guard member I terminates in a round bar 5.

On the upper face of the guard I at each of the opposite ends thereof, and on the longitudinal center thereof, I have, provided positioning studs 15' 6-6, the upper edges of which are tapered at 1, to conform to the curve portion 4 of the guard and to function as a cam in relation to the hinged halves of the blade backing member, as will be hereinafter described. The studs 6-6 are sub- 30 stantially rectangular in cross section. The guard member is mounted on a hollow handle 8 which is secured to the center of the guard on the under face thereof. A spindle 9 is slidably confined in the tubular handle 8. The lower end of the 85 handle 8 is shouldered at Ill into engagement with a collar ll, said collar being rotatable around the lower end of the handle 8. The lower end of the spindle 9 throughout a portion of the; length 1 thereof, is provided with a spiral thread I2 thereon. A sleeve I3 is provided within the collar It, said sleeve forming a continuation of the handle member 9. A pin it is engaged with the collar i l and sleeve 13, and said pin has a reduced sized extended portion I5 on the end thereof, which is confined in the spiral thread [2 on the stem 9, whereby rotation of the collar II and pin I5, through the engagement thereof with the threaded portion on the spindle 9, moves said spindle axially in the handle 8.

The upper end of the spindle 9 is drilled and threaded to receive the threaded end I6 of a rectangular shank I1. The fiat sided shank extension ll' of the spindle extends through a rectangular opening IB in the guard I. The upper end of the shank I1 is provided with a tubular head I9 thereon, the axis of which is at right angles to the length of the shank I1. A hollow shaft has its center portion confined in the tubular member l9, and said hollow shaft 20 extends lengthwise relative to the longitudinal center of the guard l and in parallel relation to the plane of the face thereof.

A blade backing member consisting of a pair of like halves 2 I2l is provided with hinge journals 23 thereon, all of which are swingably mounted on opposite ends of the hollow shaft 20, whereby the blade backing member may be placed in the collapsed position shown in Fig. .1, or swung into the extended position shown in Fig. 3. The opposite longitudinal edges 22 of the blade backing member form surfaces to engage opposite sides of the blade adjacent the cutting edges thereof. Opposite ends of the blade backing members 2! are recessed to receive and accommodate the blade positioning studs 6-6. A spring 24 is provided within the hollow shaft 29, and opposite ends of said spring are bent at right angles to project through the hinge journals on the opposite halves 2| of the blade backing member, for the purpose of automatically swinging the halves of the blade backing member into a collapsed position when said blade backing member is elevated away from the upper face of the guard member.

' The upper face of the guard member is provided with a plurality of lugs 25 arranged in selected relation on the face thereof, which lugs form a continuation of the angle of inclination of the cam surface I on each of the opposite sides of the blade positioning studs. The opposite halves M of the blade backing member are provided with recesses 28 therein, each of which register with the projections 25 to receive said projections in said recesses when the blade backing member is clamped onto the guard. The face of the guard member in longitudinal alignment with the projections 25, is slightly recessed at'21. When the blade backing member is moved from the extended and clamped position shown in Fig. 3 into the collapsed or elevated position, the first step of movement would be that shown in Fig. 2. As the stern and shank would continue to advance axially in the handle, the opposite halves of the backing member would ride upwardly, first over the faces of the projections 25 on the guard member, shown -in Fig. 1a, and thence onto the inclined or cam faces I of the studs 6, as shown in Fig. 1. As the -opposite halves of the blade backing member are moved away from the face of the guard member, the spring in said blade backing member reacts with the opposite halves thereof to maintain the free edges 22 thereof in contact with the respective surfaces 25 and l, at all times. Similarly, on the downward movement of the blade backing member, the free edges of the opposite halves thereof would follow the inclined surface onsaid guard member until the blade cap reaches the extended position shown in Fig. 3.

The blade 28 to be mounted upon the razor above described, is of the thin, flexible type having the cutting edges on each of the opposite longer sides thereof, and is provided with a central longitudinal aperture 29, which is in the form of a central longitudinal slot. The length of the slot is greater than the distance between the outer ends of the opposite studs 6-6 on the guard l, and is greater than the length of the backing member, whereby when the blade is dropped over the backing member in the collapsed position shown in Fig. 1, and onto the studs 6-8, the blade cannot move lengthwise in .either direction.

The slot 29 is provided with enlargements 30 at each of its opposite ends, which enlargements are adapted to engage the studs 66 and prevent sidewise movement of the blade 28. The width of the slot 29 is slightly greater than the over-all thickness of the opposite halves of the blade backing member when in the folded or collapsed position shown in Fig. 1, whereby the said blade will pass freely over the collapsed halves when either placing the blade on, or removing it from, the razor. The contour of the slot 29 and its enlargements 30 corresponds to the outline or boundary of the backing member when in the collapsed posi- 15 tion, and of the positioning studs. The blade is also provided with slots 3| therein, each of which are adapted to register with and pass over the projections 25 on the guard member, to lock said blade in a definite and fixed position on said on guard.

If the blade is to be placed on the razor, the razor elements are first brought into the position shown in Fig. l. The opposite ends of the blade are grasped between the fingers and the central 2? opening 29 of the blade is first passed down over the collapsed halves of the blade backing member, until the slot enlargements at opposite ends of the blade pass down over the positioning studs 6-6. The blade would be removed from the 30 razor by a reversal of the movement heretofore described. When the blade is properly positioned on the guard, the blade clamping member is lowered, which action automatically shifts the opposite halves thereof into the extended position shown in Fig. 3, and clamps the opposite cutting edges of the blade in shaving position over the opposite slots 2 in the guard member.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A safety razor including a guard member; a

blade; a cap to engage the blade with the guard member, said cap being divided on its central longitudinal axis into two halves hingedly connected, whereby the cap may be elevated relative to the blade and the two halves of the cap will fold down into a position at right angles to the plane of the guard; and a spring engaging said opposite halves of the cap to force the same into the folded position.

2. A safety razor, comprising a guard member provided with blade positioning studs on one side thereof and a tubular handle on the other side; a

blade backing member hinged on its longitudinal center line to form complementary halves; a stem to move axially in said handle and having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to the opposite halves of the backing member, whereby said backing member is movable from an extended position in contact with the guard into a 001- lapsed position above the guard, and vice versa; a spring engaging said complementary halves of the cap to force the same into the folded position and to resist movement into theextended position; a blade to be clamped between the guard and blade backing member and having a central longitudinal slot fitting over the blade positioning studs and being of a length and width exceeding that of .the blade backing member when in the collapsed position; and coacting means on the stem and handle for relatively moving said blade backing member into and from blade clamping position on the guard.

3. A safety razor, comprising a guard member provided with blade positioning studs on one side thereof and a tubular handle on the other side; a blade backing member hinged on its longitudinal center line to form complementary halves; a stem to move axially in said handle; a tubular shaft on the upper end of said stem having the opposite halves of the backing member pivotally mounted thereon, whereby said backing member is movable from an extended position in contact with the guard into a collapsed position above the guard, and vice versa; a spring in said tubular shaft engaging said halves of the backing member to force the same into the folded position and to resist movement into the extendedposition; a blade to be clamped between the guard and blade backing member and having a central longitudinal slot fitting over the blade positioning studs and being of a length and width exceeding that of the blade backing member when in the collapsed position; and coacting means on the stem and handle for relatively moving said blade backing member into and from blade clamping position on the guard.

4. A safety razor, comprising a guard member provided with blade positioning studs on one side thereof and a tubular handle on the other side; a blade backing member hinged on its longitudinal center line to form complementary halves; a stem to move axially in said handle; a tubular shaft on the upper end of said stem having the opposite halves of the backing member pivotally mounted thereon, whereby said backing member is movable from an extended position in contact with the guard into a collapsed position above the guard, and vice versa; cam members on the blade positioning studs to move the opposite halves of the blade backing member from the collapsed position and into the extended position when the blade backing member is moved toward the guard; a spring in said tubular. shaft engaging said halves of the backing member to move the same into the collapsed position when the blade backing member is moved away from the guard; a blade to be clamped between the guard and blade backing member and having a central longitudinal slot fitting over the blade positioning studs and being of a length and width exceeding that of the blade backing member when in the collapsed position; and coacting means on the stem and handle for relatively moving said blade backing member into and from blade clamping position on the guard.

5. A safety razor comprising a guard member provided with blade positioning studs; a blade backing member consisting of complementary halves hingedly connected along one side thereof, means shiftable at right angles to said guard member, the halves of said blade backing memher being hingedly mounted on said shiftable means to cause each of the longitudinal edges thereof to substantially coincide with the longitudinal edges of said guard member when in the extended position and to fold into a collapsed position on opposite sides of the slidable means when in the raised position; a spring engaging said complementary halves of the cap to force the same into the folded position and to resist movement into the extended position; a blade adapted to be clamped between said guard and blade backing member having a central longitudinal slot, the ends of which fit said blade positioning studs, and being of a length exceeding that of said blade backing member, the width of said slot exceeding the width of the halves of the blade backing member when in the folded position, said slot permitting the blade to be moved over the folded halves of the blade backing member and said slidable means when the latter is raised away from the guard; and means for relatively moving the said blade backing member into clamping position with the guard.

6. A safety razor including a guard member; a blade; a cap to engage the blade with the guard member, said cap being divided centrally into two halves hingedly connected, whereby the cap may be elevated relative to the blade and the two halves of thecap will fold down into a position at right angles to the plane of the guard; and a spring engaging said opposite halves of the cap to force the same into the folded position.

7. A safety razor, comprising a guard member provided with blade positioning studs on one side thereof and a tubular handle on the other side; a blade backing member divided on a center line to form complementary halves; a stem tomove axially in said handle and having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to the opposite halves of the backing member, whereby said backing member is movable from an extended position in contact with the guard into a collapsed position above the guard, and vice versa; a spring engaging said complementary halves of the cap to force the same into the folded position and to resist movement into the extended position; a blade to be clamped between the guard and blade backing member and having a central longitudinal slot fitting over the blade positioning studs; and coacting means on the stem and. handle for relatively moving said blade backing member into and from blade clamping position on the guard.

8. A safety razor, comprising a guard member, blade positioning studs on opposite sides of and at predetermined points on one face of said guard, said studs being inclined from opposite sides of the guard to the center thereof; a tubular handle on the other face of the guard; a

blade backing member hingedly divided on a center line thereof to form complementary halves; a stem to move axially in said handle and having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to the opposite halves of the backing member, whereby said backing member is movable from an extended position in contact with the guard into a collapsed position above the guard and vice versa, the inclined studs on the guard guiding the opposite halves of the backing member in their travel into and from the extended po sition; a spring engaging said complementary halves of the cap to force the same into the folded position and to'resist movement into the extended position; a blade to be clamped between the guard and blade backing member and having a central longitudinal slot fitting over the blade positioning studs; and coacting means on the stem and handle for relatively moving said blade backing member into and from blade clamping position on the guard.

9. A safety razor including a guard member, a blade backing member and a blade; said guard member having the central parts of the opposite ends recessed; blade positioning studs on the upper surface of said guard member, some of said studs having cam members on the upper surface thereof, and said guard member having, upon the upper opposite sides, longitudinally disposed depressions adjacent the blade positioning studs to provide contacting areas for flexing the blade between the surfaces of the guard member and the blade backing member; said blade backing member being pivotally mounted on means slidable on' said guard member and having the central parts of the opposite ends recessed, to provide extended outer ends for riding upon the cam members or the blade positioning studs at the opposite ends of the guard member to swing the backing member and having on the opposite under sides and at predetermined points, depressions adapted to fit over the blade positioning studs 'on the opposite sides of the upper face of the guard member; and said blade member having on the opposite sides and at predetermined longitudinal points, apertures adapted. to fit over the blade positioning studs on the opposite sides of the upper face of the guard member.

JOHN D. GARRETSON. 

